Shloka 2

गान्धारीपुत्रोत्पत्तिः — The Birth of Gāndhārī’s Hundred Sons (and Yuyutsu); Omens and Counsel on Succession

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच बभूव ब्राह्मण: कश्रिन्माण्डव्य इति विश्रुत: । धृतिमान्‌ सर्वधर्मज्ञ: सत्ये तपसि च स्थित:

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca: babhūva brāhmaṇaḥ kaścin Māṇḍavya iti viśrutaḥ | dhṛtimān sarvadharmajñaḥ satye tapasi ca sthitaḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那（Vaiśampāyana）说道：“大王啊，往昔有一位婆罗门，名闻于世曰曼陀毗耶（Māṇḍavya）；其志坚忍，通晓诸法（dharma），安住于真实与苦行（tapas）之中。”

Word by Word

• वैशम्पायनः: Vaishampayana
• वैशम्पायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• बभूव: there was / became
• बभूव: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ब्राह्मणः: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कश्चित्: a certain (one)
• कश्चित्: Visheshana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: कश्चित्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• माण्डव्यः: Mandavya
• माण्डव्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: माण्डव्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इति: thus / by the name
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• विश्रुतः: well-known / renowned
• विश्रुतः: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्रुत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धृतिमान्: steadfast / patient
• धृतिमान्: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृतिमत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वधर्मज्ञः: knower of all dharmas
• सर्वधर्मज्ञः: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वधर्मज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सत्ये: in truth
• सत्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• तपसि: in austerity
• तपसि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• स्थितः: abiding / established
• स्थितः: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Māṇḍavya
• brāhmaṇa
• King (addressed as rājan)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse establishes an ethical ideal: true authority in dharma rests on inner steadiness (dhṛti), comprehensive understanding of righteous conduct (sarvadharmajñatā), and unwavering commitment to truth (satya) and disciplined austerity (tapas).

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana introduces a renowned brāhmaṇa named Māṇḍavya to the king, describing his character and virtues as a prelude to the ensuing episode centered on dharma and its consequences.